LOOK FOR US at the State Fair in Sedalia August 22-23 Just got back from the Fair, Elsa took 2nd in her class and Dela took 3rd, behind Elsa, in same class. Yay!
Welcome to Gerber Hill Farms website (created 11/18/04)! I hope you find the information on this site interesting and helpful and that you enjoy the photos and content. We don't raise to sell, we only have a couple Nigerian does. We are going to focus on showing in 2010 and will have five does at the end of this year, along with three bucks. Photos will come soon for our buck, Erik.
We named our farm Gerber Hill because Tim's family owned land from which our smaller piece of property came from beginning in the 1800's to about 1950. We re-purchased our piece of property in 2001. The piece of property is on the top of a LARGE hill and was referred to as "Gerber Hill" or the "Old Gerber Place" in reference to his GGrandpa's name (who lived on the place for several decades). So, that's why we named the farm Gerber Hill.
I got my first DAIRY goat in 2001 from some friends. My husband is allergic to cow's milk, they had an extra goat to get rid of, and although I grew up on a farm with just about every farm animal, we never had anything to milk and I thought it would be fun.
So, they delivered this "full-of-milk" large, white goat to me on a Sunday afternoon. I'm thinking, "how hard can this be? I've seen cows getting milked and it doesn't look so tough." HA! First, you have to have a milking stand. I thought that for now I'd just put a piece of plywood on top of two milk crates and put her food in front of her. First, she didn't like me. Second, she didn't like me touching her parts. Third, she didn't like the WAY I touched her parts since I had no idea how to turn the spigots on.
Libby, our first dairy goat
Libby (the goat) would just jump off the milking stand as soon as I touched her, usually by way of foot-in-the-milking-bowl, and dump anything I did manage to squeeze out all over me.
Since I got her on a Sunday, I had to go a whole week of trying to milk, morning and night, without a proper milking stand. Again, thinking I'm so smart, I just figured I'd tie her up so she couldn't jump off the stand. You know what a goat does when they can't get away from a milking person? THEY LAY DOWN!! ARRGGGHHH! So, I milked with her tied up, my right knee under her belly so she couldn't lay down, cussing, and getting a milk bath. It was so relaxing. I tried, really. I sang to her. I petted her. I scratched her. I spent time in the barn with her so she wouldn't feel like an object to be used.
Finally, the following weekend, I built myself a milking stand. As soon as Libby got up on it she acted like that's all she was asking for, a decent stand, and she stood there and ate her grain...patiently...while I milked. She didn't even test it. The brat. I guess she knew she couldn't get out of the stanchion so why bother? Things calmed down and we got to the business of milking...it is so natural now I can't remember not knowing how.
Alas, Libby has gone on to other pastures and we only have Nigerian does now, along with Libby's daughter, Daisy, who is a mini-Saanen.
Sales Policy
Sales Policy: A $50 non-refundable deposit will hold a kid until 8 wks of age. A $50 non-refundable deposit will hold an adult goat to be picked up within a reasonable amount of time (six weeks). If a kid or adult goat is not picked up within that time frame, Gerber Hill reserves the right to retain or sell the kid or adult goat without refund of deposit.
Crowe's Country Candles AWESOME scented candles. I know a lot of places make candles and say their's is the best, and I am NOT knockin' anyone else's candles...but these guys have been my favorite since they started, I think...(I wanna say I first got them in '93?)...Their candles really do last all the way to the bottom of the jar.
Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goat Information
The Nigerian Dwarf is a miniature goat of West African origin. They are popular due to their small size and colorful markings. They do not require as much space as their larger dairy goat counterparts and their gentle, friendly personalities make them good companion pets and easy to handle even for small children and the elderly. They are still considered “rare” by the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.
A Nigerian doe can produce a surprising amount of sweet milk for her small size – up to two quarts a day, and their milk is usually high in butterfat, 6 – 10%, and higher in protein content that most other dairy goat breeds. (My girls give about 1 qt of milk a day in peak lactation, maybe a bit more.)
A Nigerian Dwarf goat’s conformation is similar to that of the larger dairy goat breeds. The nose is straight and the ears are upright. The coat is soft with short to medium hair. Any color or combination of colors is acceptable, though pygmy breed specific markings is considered a moderate fault.
Adult females Nigerians are 17” to 19” tall with does up to 21” allowed in the breed standard and adult male Nigerians are 19” to 20” with bucks up to 23” allowed in the breed standard. Ideal weight is around 75 lbs.
Dwarf goats are gentle and lovable. Their calm, even temperament and engaging personalities make them suitable companions for all, including children, the disabled and the elderly. Even breeding bucks are handled easily. They usually blend in with goat herds including full-size goats and do not need special quarters, just adequate fencing to contain them because of their small size.
Dwarf goats breed year round. The gestation period for a doe is 145 to 153 days. For the most part, Nigerian Dwarfs are a hearty breed with few kidding problems. New babies average about 2 lbs at birth but grow quickly. Does can be bred at 7 – 8 months of age if they have reached a good size. Some breeders prefer to wait until they are at least one year or older. Dwarf does can have several kids at a time, 3 and 4 being common and sometimes even five or six!
My Milking Stall
This is what I see looking left when I'm milking Another view
This is my milking stand all folded up Little Black Banty Rooster coming in to join the eating fracus ...closer Success...what kind of chicken feed is this?
Libby, our first dairy goat
This is what I see looking left when I'm milking
Another view
This is my milking stand all folded up
Little Black Banty Rooster coming in to join the eating fracus
...closer
Success...what kind of chicken feed is this?